Huskies have a home field -- and a youth program

CEDAR RAPIDS — A home field is in place. A 10th game has been added. A youth program -- a tackle youth program -- is under development.

This is an offseason of progress for the football program at Cedar Valley Christian School.

Huskies Coach Ed Betsworth said Thursday that the team will play its 2012 home games at LaSalle Middle School, where he serves as athletics director. It won't be perfect -- the field's width will be at 11-man specifications instead of 8-man -- but it's home.

"We were able to work with Holy Family Schools to make this work, and we're thrilled," Betsworth said.

Originally, Cedar Valley was going to play its home schedule at Springville and Central City, but then LaSalle became an option.

The Huskies will play their home opener Thursday, Aug. 16, against Don Bosco. The game was added because Don Bosco had an opening due to the fact that Cedar Falls NU High is closing.

Iowa High School Athletic Association information director Bud Legg said the CVCS-Don Bosco game is the only one in the state that night; thus, it will be the first game of the 2012 season in Iowa.

The Huskies became sanctioned by the IHSAA and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union last fall. Their first foray into football was unspectacular -- they were 0-4 against varsity competition.

They'll be playing 10 varsity games this fall, and though it remains to be seen whether the Huskies are more competitive, Betsworth is taking steps to solidify the future.

He is beginning a tackle football program -- called Disciples Football -- which will be affiliated with the Youth Sports Foundation.

Schools involved are Cedar Valley Christian, Isaac Newton Christian Academy and Trinity Lutheran, though other young players are invited to participate. There will be two teams -- grades 3-4 and grades 5-6. Cost is $55 for the younger team, $65 for the older.

Betsworth said three items will separate the Disciples from other youth football programs -- an academic accountability program, a character development program and the aim to expose youth to a Christ-centered program.

"What we were lacking last season wasn't effort or intelligence," Betsworth said. "It was experience.

"To play competitive football, you've got to learn it at a young age. Our young kids are going to learn the fundamentals, and they're going to learn a lot more."